> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.benchmarkanalytics.com.au/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Australia’s population reaches 27.9 million — 68% live in the capital cities
- URL: https://www.benchmarkanalytics.com.au/australias-population-reaches-27-9-million-68-live-in-the-capital-cities/
- Published: 2026-09-17T01:43:07.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-17T01:43:07.000Z
- Author: Nick Hossack

Australia’s population has reached **27.92 million**, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates.

At 31 March 2026, the population was **27,921,150**, up **392,700 people, or 1.4 per cent**, over the previous year.

New South Wales remains comfortably the largest state, with **8.67 million people**, followed by Victoria at **7.15 million** and Queensland at **5.74 million**. Western Australia has passed **3.09 million**, while South Australia has **1.92 million**.

All states and territories recorded population growth over the year. Western Australia grew fastest, at **2.1 per cent**, while Tasmania recorded the slowest growth at **0.6 per cent**.

Migration remains the main driver of national growth. Net overseas migration added **292,100 people** during the year, equivalent to around **74 per cent of total population growth**. Natural increase — births minus deaths — contributed another **100,600 people**.

But where do Australians actually live?

The latest ABS population estimates that allow a clean capital-city versus regional comparison are for **30 June 2025**. At that point, Australia had **18.75 million people living within the eight Greater Capital City Statistical Areas**, representing **67.9 per cent of the national population**.

The remaining **8.86 million people — 32.1 per cent — lived outside the capital-city areas**.

The ABS definition is important. Greater Capital City Statistical Areas measure the broader functional area of each capital, including some surrounding towns and rural areas whose residents regularly work, shop or socialise within the city.

So Australia remains a highly metropolitan country: roughly **two Australians in every three live within a capital-city region**, while about one in three live elsewhere.

| Australia’s population reaches 27.9 million                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |            |                 |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------- | --------------- |
| Population 27.92m 31 March 2026 Annual growth +392,700 +1.4%                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |            |                 |
| State / territory                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Population | Annual change   |
| NSW                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 8.670m     | +97,000 (1.1%)  |
| Victoria                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 7.154m     | +109,500 (1.6%) |
| Queensland                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 5.740m     | +90,100 (1.6%)  |
| Western Australia                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 3.096m     | +64,200 (2.1%)  |
| South Australia                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | 1.917m     | +18,400 (1.0%)  |
| Tasmania                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 580,700    | +3,400 (0.6%)   |
| ACT                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | 489,700    | +6,200 (1.3%)   |
| Northern Territory                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              | 268,900    | +4,000 (1.5%)   |
| Where Australians live                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |            |                 |
| Greater capital cities                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | 18.751m    | 67.9%           |
| Rest of Australia                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 8.864m     | 32.1%           |
| Note: Current national and state populations are at 31 March 2026\. The latest official capital-city/regional population split is at 30 June 2025\. Capital cities are ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSAs); “rest of Australia” is the population outside those areas. Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics. |            |                 |